Can the Indonesian vice-president solve the nation’s longest-running conflict in Papua?

Indonesian Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has been tasked with overseeing development in Papua, the country’s poorest province. The region has been plagued by conflicts between Indonesian security forces and the Free Papua Movement, a pro-independence group that has existed since the 1960s. Papua is rich in natural resources, including gold, copper, timber, oil and gas, making it a significant contributor to Indonesia’s economy. However, a recent surge in Chinese investment in the mining sector has raised concern about whether the influx of money is deepening inequality in the conflict-prone region.